Andrei Codrescu/ Marcos Breton/ "Rent"/ Paul Oscher

Poet and commentator narrates Sacramento Opera production; Sac Bee columnist; High school production of Broadway hit; Bluesman comes to town

Andrei Codrescu A voice familiar to NPR listeners will accompany an unusual production by Sacramento Opera this weekend. Andrei Codrescu, a poet, essayist, novelist and longtime commentator on "All Things Considered," will narrate "A Russian Affair." The show includes highlights of two operas - "Eugene Onegin" and "The Queen of Spades," both by the Russian composer Tchaikovsky - and excerpts from the writings of Russian poet and novelist Alexander Pushkin. The two operas were based on his work.

Andrei Codrescu will narrate "A Russian Affair: Highlights from Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin and The Queen of Spades" at the Sacramento Opera at 8 p.m. Friday, May 7th and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 9th at the Sacramento Community Center Theater, 1301 L St., Sacramento. Information: (916) 808-5181. Andrei Codrescu will also sign books at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 8th at the Avid Reader at Tower, 1600 Broadway, Sacramento. Information: (916) 441-4400.

Marcos Breton Today on Insight, we check in on various stories in the news with Sacramento Bee columnist Marcos Breton.

"Rent" One of Broadway's most successful musicals is a challenge for some schools to put on. "Rent" includes gay characters and frank discussion of drug use, but there's now a slightly toned down version of "Rent" intended for schools to produce. "Rent: The School Version" was approved by the estate of Jonathan Larson, the creator of "Rent" who died in 1996 before the original show became a big hit.

"Rent" will be performed at 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays through May 14th at West Campus High School, 5022 58th St., Sacramento. Information: (916) 277-6400.

Paul Oscher Bluesman Paul Oscher is coming to town. He's a harmonica player who became well known in the late '60s and early '70s when he played in the Muddy Waters band. This Friday, he plays in a benefit for the Blues in the Schools program. You'll meet him and hear some of his music.